Ephesians 1:13 kjv

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 1:13 nkjv

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 1:13 niv

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

Ephesians 1:13 esv

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Ephesians 1:13 nlt

And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.

Ephesians 1 verses

Ephesians 1 13 Meaning

Ephesians 1:13 succinctly describes the process of Gentile believers' salvation and their inclusion into God's family, paralleling that of Jewish believers mentioned earlier. It outlines the journey from hearing the truth of the gospel—the message of salvation through Christ—to believing it. Upon believing, these individuals were spiritually "sealed" by God with the Holy Spirit. This sealing signifies divine ownership, security, authenticity, and is a fulfillment of God's promise, serving as an irrefutable mark of their new covenant relationship with God.

Ephesians 1 13 Context

Ephesians 1:13 is nestled within a grand opening doxology (Eph 1:3-14) where Paul praises God for every spiritual blessing poured out "in Christ." Prior to this verse, Paul addresses Jewish believers (often indicated by "we" in Eph 1:11-12) who had been predestined to live for God's glory. Verse 13 transitions with "in Him you also," explicitly including Gentile believers (the "you") into this same divine plan and spiritual reality. This inclusion underscores a central theme of Ephesians: the breaking down of the wall between Jews and Gentiles and their unity in Christ as the Church. Historically, the Ephesian audience would have been very aware of their pagan past, having come from a city renowned for the temple of Artemis and various mystery cults. Paul's emphasis on "the word of truth" and "the gospel of your salvation" would have contrasted sharply with the syncretistic beliefs and superstitious practices prevalent in Ephesus, asserting the singularity and exclusivity of God's revealed truth. The sealing by the Holy Spirit would have countered the ephemeral experiences or magical "seals" sought in pagan rituals, emphasizing God's secure, authentic, and lasting mark of ownership on believers.

Ephesians 1 13 Word analysis

• In Him (ἐν ᾧ, en hō): This phrase emphasizes the singular, indispensable centrality of Christ for all believers. It signifies a spiritual sphere of existence and union; all blessings and salvation are mediated through Him. It directly links Gentile salvation to the redemptive work established in Jesus, providing a continuity with the previous verses' focus on God's plan realized in Christ.
• you also (καὶ ὑμεῖς, kai hymeis): The emphatic "also" highlights the inclusion of Gentiles (the recipients of the letter, primarily Gentiles, hence "you") into the same salvific plan that was described for the Jewish believers. It asserts their full and equal standing with Jewish Christians in God's eternal purposes, breaking down prior distinctions.
• having heard (ἀκούσαντες, akousantes): This aorist participle signifies an action completed in the past, leading to a present state. It implies not just passively hearing sound, but actively perceiving and receiving the message, implying attentiveness and comprehension of the preached word.
• the word of truth (τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας, ton logon tēs alētheias): This phrase unequivocally refers to the divine message, specifically the gospel. It emphasizes its objective reality, divine origin, and unchanging veracity, contrasting it with human philosophies or false teachings prevalent in Ephesus. It's the dependable, revealed message from God.
• the gospel of your salvation (τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς σωτηρίας ὑμῶν, to euangelion tēs sōtērias hymōn): This specifies "the word of truth" as the good news concerning salvation, emphasizing its saving power and direct relevance to the readers. It highlights that this good news is personally for them, leading to their rescue from sin and spiritual death.
• in Him also (ἐν ᾧ καὶ, en hō kai): Repeats the crucial "in Him" from the beginning of the verse, reiterating that belief, and consequently sealing, is anchored in Christ. The repetition strengthens the emphasis on Christ as the foundation and sphere of the believer's entire experience of grace and salvation.
• having believed (πιστεύσαντες, pisteusantes): Another aorist participle, indicating a decisive, foundational act of faith, a moment of personal trust and commitment to Christ based on the "word of truth" heard. This is active belief, not mere intellectual assent, but full reliance upon God’s message.
• you were sealed (ἐσφραγίσθητε, esphragisthēte): This is an aorist passive indicative verb, meaning the sealing was an act done to them by an external agent (God/Holy Spirit) at a specific point in time (upon believing). The act of "sealing" (`sphragizō`) signifies several things: ownership (like a mark on property), authenticity (a genuine document), security/protection (a sealed letter, tomb), and completion of a transaction.
• with the Holy Spirit of promise (τῷ Πνεύματι τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τῷ Ἁγίῳ, tō Pneumati tēs epangelias tō Hagiō): This identifies the "seal" as the Holy Spirit Himself. "Of promise" (`tēs epangelias`) refers to the Holy Spirit as the One promised throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Joel 2:28) and by Jesus (e.g., John 14:16, Acts 1:4). This signifies that receiving the Spirit is the fulfillment of God's prophetic word, securing the believers' future inheritance and validating their new identity in Christ. The presence of the Spirit guarantees the certainty of God's blessings.

• "in Him... you also... in Him also": This recurring phrase structure (anadiplosis/epanaphora-like repetition) powerfully reinforces the universal truth that all blessings, whether for Jew or Gentile, are received solely through being united with Christ. It underscores the unity and equality of believers in their shared Christocentric experience of salvation.
• "having heard... the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation... having believed": This sequence delineates the essential progression for salvation. Hearing the truth correctly preached and then responding in active faith are presented as the twin foundational human acts that lead to God's sealing. It highlights the importance of God's revealed message and the individual's trusting response.
• "you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise": This phrase highlights God's immediate, sovereign, and definitive act following belief. The Holy Spirit is not merely an effect or gift, but the actual seal, signifying God's authentication and reservation of the believer. His presence is the tangible fulfillment of God's covenant promises, confirming their status as adopted children and future heirs.

Ephesians 1 13 Bonus section

The passive voice "you were sealed" implies that this act is entirely God's work, not something the believer initiates or earns. The Holy Spirit's sealing points to an internal transformation that permanently identifies the believer with Christ and sets them apart as sacred, marked for God's purposes. The concept of sealing would have resonated culturally, as seals were used to mark ownership of goods, authenticate documents, and secure possessions. Spiritually, it signifies that believers are eternally secure and protected in God's possession, not subject to withdrawal or invalidation. It underscores the Trinitarian nature of salvation: God the Father conceived the plan (Eph 1:3-12), God the Son accomplished redemption (Eph 1:7), and God the Holy Spirit applies and secures the benefits. The Spirit, as the "Spirit of promise," ties the present reality of the believer's life directly to God's faithfulness across history, fulfilling prophecies and providing a foretaste of the complete inheritance yet to come.

Ephesians 1 13 Commentary

Ephesians 1:13 stands as a pivotal statement on the nature of Gentile salvation and the integral role of the Holy Spirit. It describes a precise sequence: the "you" (Gentile believers) first heard "the word of truth," specifically "the gospel of your salvation." This emphasizes that saving faith is not vague, but a response to a specific, divine message about Christ's redemptive work. Upon this hearing, they believed, marking their conscious decision to trust in this good news. Immediately concurrent with this faith, they were sealed by God with the Holy Spirit. This sealing is not a second blessing or an optional experience; it is God's sovereign act upon belief, serving as an inviolable mark of His ownership, authenticity, and preservation. The Spirit's indwelling is the fulfillment of God's ancient promise, signifying His presence as a guarantee that believers belong to Him and will ultimately receive their full inheritance. This sealing brings immense assurance, solidifying their standing and security in Christ, counteracting any doubts or claims from other religious systems.